BMX facility on track for city park

Nick Lakin

The Friends of Ryelands Park, Lancaster City Council and Lancashire County Council are in discussion with a Haslingden based community organisation to build a BMX pump track on land at Ryelands Park.

Martin Proffitt, of Proffitts CIC, said that plans were at an early stage, but the organisation had already started consulting with the local community.

The proposed location for the BMX track is a grassy slope between the existing football pitches and cycle path which runs along the railway line.

It is the site originally proposed in the city council’s 2012 draft masterplan for the park.

Mr Proffitt said: “The Friends of Ryelands Park approached us along with the county council to see if we could help.

It’s an exciting development for the park

“A consultation with young people and local residents has enabled us to put together a bit more of a firm design.

“We’re in the process of working out who to consult with about getting funding, and we will probably link in with Our Lady’s Catholic College, and organise a trip out to an established pump track to give young people a better idea of what they can expect.”

Pump tracks have become very popular since the Olympics. It is a circular track made up of humps and bumps and sharp creases, and is built from stone and tarmac.

Mr Proffitt added: “The cost including ground works will probably be around £80,000 and we’ll try and secure funding from a range of sources, and then tender out the construction work after that. It’s an exciting development for the park.”